Why Are There Spider Webs On My Knoxville, TN Property?
There isn’t much that’s creepier than the feeling of a sticky spider web wrapping around your skin. If you’ve been unlucky enough to walk headlong into a spider web, you know just how gross it can be. But why do some webs look different than others? And why doesn’t every web have a spider? Here’s everything you need to know about spider webs on your Knoxville property.
Types Of Spiders In Knoxville
There are believed to be at least 40 unique spider species residing in Tennessee today, coming in all shapes and sizes. While many of these spiders are only likely to be found in the wilderness of the Volunteer State, there are a few that can be found on your Knoxville property, including:
- Common house spiders – Found throughout the U.S. and Canada, common house spiders average about 3/16 of an inch in length and come in a variety of variable colors and patterns, usually with dark stripes or bands meeting at an angle.
- Brown recluse spiders – Often mistaken for other species, true brown recluse spiders have solid-colored bodies and limbs, a fiddle pattern on their back, and six eyes arranged in pairs of two. They can grow up to ½ inch long and are highly venomous.
- Cellar spiders – With long, skinny legs and tiny bodies, cellar spiders are commonly confused with harvestmen or daddy-long-legs. Cellar spiders can grow up to 3/8 of an inch in size and are pale yellow to light brown in color.
How Do Knoxville Spiders Use Their Webs?
Spiders are remarkably inventive creatures when it comes to using their webs. Nobody wants to get tangled in the threads of a web (or worse, get it caught in your hair), but you have to give these pests credit for creativity when it comes to construction.
Common house spiders will weave and abandon webs until they find a reliable spot to catch prey. Their webs typically have one thicker portion where the spider can rest and may feature a leaf or stick to be used for hiding. Common house spider webs can be found in garages, sheds, and barns.
Brown recluse spiders weave messy, irregular webs in obscure areas with little human traffic. Attics, basements, closets, and boxes are typical locations for brown recluse webs. Rather than a hunting trap, brown recluses use their webs as shelter.
Cellar spiders like to build their webs in areas of high humidity and can be found in all sorts of dark, damp locations including cellars, sheds, and warehouses. Instead of weaving new webs, cellar spiders prefer to reinforce their web with additional layers to create a distinct cobweb appearance.
How To Prevent Spiders
If you’re seeing a lot of spider webs, you’ve got a lot of spiders. You can address the spider problems on your Knoxville property by:
- Dewebbing – Using a broom or vacuum with a hose attachment, carefully remove any webs you see. You can also use adhesive tape to remove any stubborn webs stuck to walls or other surfaces.
- Cleaning – Reduce the presence of the bugs that spiders prey on by regularly cleaning kitchen areas for spills and food debris. Dispose of trash often and don’t leave dirty dishes in the sink overnight.
- Addressing moisture – Reduce humidity by running electric fans and opening windows or installing a dehumidifier. Seal any leaking pipes or faucets where spiders can drink.
If you’re sick of spider webs on your Knoxville property, call the pros at Urbanex. Our spider control services are safe and effective so you don’t have to worry about webs ever again. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you.
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